 ICA finds 100 cartons of contraband cigarettes in Mercedes
A HUNDRED cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes with were found hidden in a Mercedes during an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) check at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
The ICA said on Thursday it diverted an arriving Malaysia-registered car for further checks at about 7pm on June 6.
Officers found 100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden within the vehicle. Part of it was retrieved from under the rear seats of the vehicle, while the remaining was taken out from a secret compartment between the back rest and the fuel tank.
The customs duty and Goods and Service Tax payable is estimated to be about $7000 and $450.
The driver, a Malaysian Chinese male aged 29, acknowledged the presence of the cigarettes. He claimed that he was offered RM$500 (S$223) for a successful delivery into Singapore. He also admitted that the vehicle was not his.
The contraband cigarettes, vehicle and driver were handed over to the Singapore Customs for further investigations.
Upon conviction, first time offenders can be fined up to a maximum of 20 times the amount of duty evaded.
For second or subsequent convictions, offenders can be jailed for up to two years, as well as being fined.
The offenders also face further fines based on the amount of GST evaded.
ST07/06/2007 | 
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